The Red & White

What if all St. George’s teachers stopped being paid, yet were still expected to teach? What if housekeeping and Sage were all laid off? All because the board was unable to make a budget that would keep the school functioning. Our school would no doubt descend into chaos. Dorm trash cans would pile up to the ceiling, King Hall would be empty, and faculty would be unable to do their jobs. This reality exists, yet it’s on a much larger scale. 

The recent government shutdown began on October 1st. Federal agencies have been forced to furlough their workers, meaning sending them home without pay, or make their employees work without compensation. The United States has experienced 21 shutdowns since 1976, each triggered by political gridlock. The longest occurred in 2018 and 2019, lasting 35 days and leaving over 800,000 federal workers without pay. Yet none have resolved the very budget disputes they were meant to force. This system of shutting down over a disagreement is inefficient and quickly leads the country into chaos. In fact, the United States is one of the only countries in the world to shut down over budget disagreements. Other countries will have a backup plan or use the previous year’s budget to avoid halting government processes. 

 Shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree on how to fund the government. This most recent shutdown is the second-longest in American history, and there isn’t really an end in sight. As high school students with busy lives, it’s easy to overlook nationwide issues, especially when they don’t directly affect us. However, students across the country are being affected. Food assistance, student loans processing, and grants have been delayed or discontinued. The economy has taken a major hit as well, with billions being lost each week. These effects ripple across the American population. The longer this shutdown continues, the greater these impacts will become.

But what can we do? It’s hard to find the point in caring about something that feels so out of our hands and far away. While the majority of the St. George’s student body is under 18 and cannot vote, we can still have a voice. As students with access to a strong education, we have every opportunity to learn and stay informed on current events. It’s important to remember that our generation will be the next standing in the Capitol building, debating costs and policies. So read the news, or ask questions in Gov. The future of U.S. democracy depends on informed citizens.